Your guide to renting with a voucher in Baltimore

Section 01

Your voucher has a clock — use the time well

Your Housing Choice Voucher comes with a search window, usually around 90 days, to find a place and get it approved. That timeline is real.

• Start looking immediately. The clock starts when the voucher is issued, not when you feel ready.
• Know your bedroom size. Your voucher is approved for a specific number of bedrooms. Only units that match can be approved.
• Running low on time? Ask. Extensions are sometimes available, including as a reasonable accommodation. Your caseworker or HABC can tell you what's possible.

Section 02

What to have ready before you call

The right apartment can go fast. Being ready to move forward the same day helps.

• Your voucher paperwork, including your Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) packet.
• Photo ID.
• Proof of income if you have earned income: pay stubs or benefit letters.
• References, such as a past landlord's contact.
• Your bedroom size and must-haves written down.

Section 03

Know your rights — landlords can't refuse your voucher

Maryland law and Baltimore City law both protect renters from discrimination based on source of income. In general, most landlords may not turn you away because part of your rent is paid with a voucher.

• A landlord can still screen applicants, but must use the same standard for everyone.
• Be cautious of requirements to earn two or three times the full rent. With a voucher, your share is usually about 30% of your income.
• If a landlord flatly refuses your voucher, you can raise it with a fair housing organization or ask your caseworker how to report it.

Section 04

What the inspection checks for

Every unit rented with a voucher must pass a health-and-safety inspection before you move in. It's there to protect you.

• Working heat, hot water, electricity, and plumbing
• Windows and doors that lock and work
• Smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors
• No serious hazards such as exposed wiring, major leaks, or peeling paint in older homes
• Appliances and fixtures in working order

You don't fix anything; that's the landlord's job. If something doesn't pass, it's repaired and re-checked.

Section 05

Questions to ask before you sign

• What's included in the rent? Which utilities are yours?
• Who handles repairs, and how fast?
• What's the security deposit, and what could come out of it? Maryland law sets rules for how deposits are handled and returned.
• What's the lease term, and what happens when it ends?
• Is there anything about the unit I should know?

Section 06

How your rent share is figured

With a Housing Choice Voucher, you generally pay about 30% of your adjusted income toward rent and utilities, and the program pays the rest.

• The housing authority calculates your exact share from your income and allowed deductions.
• If your income drops, report it. Your share can be recalculated.
• The unit's total rent must be reasonable for the area, which the housing authority checks.